We tend to hate on Hollywood studios because of the movie projects they choose to fund (Transformers 4, anyone?). So much of typical Hollywood product tends to be huge, expensive spectacles with little-to-no story, heavy special effects and poor acting. So, we at ScreenCrave have decided to help jump behind the indie film. Every week we’ll be bring you the Indie Fundraiser Roundup in which we feature projects seen on sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo that need our help. Check out this week’s picks below.

The Whistler: In The Whistler, a young girl and her grandfather guard a magical creature from their small town. They keep him safe in the backwoods, until a thrill-seeking bounty hunter goes looking for the beast. The guards must then think of a new way to keep the animal safe. This film is being made by group of students at Emerson College, whose main priority is to create an amazing magical setting. If you like adventure films about discovering the unknown, then head to Kickstarter to check out The Whistler campaign.

The Funhouse:Ryan Worsley is making a feature-length documentary about The Funhouse, a successful punk club in Seattle, WA. When he heard that the club was closing down, he decided to make a film that would share the memories people had when they visited the Funhouse. Worsley and co. have finished filming, they’ve interviews more than 50 people, including staff, bands and fans. They need help finishing the project. If you’re interested (maybe you’re a fan of the club yourself), head over to Kickstarter for more information.

Emily: British filmmaker Guy Davies is making a dark comedy called Emily, about two criminals who kidnap a rich girl. But the film is about much more than that. It’s about people, expression and emotions. The story explores the emotions that everyone feels during a kidnapping situation. The filmmakers are trying to raise money through Kickstarter. If you head over to their campaign page, you’ll get to see a bunch of footage from the film. There’s one particular scene that really nails down the film’s dark and humorous tone. Check it out.

Pick of the Week:

Faceless: Faceless is short film that comments on how society judges the way one looks. It tells the story of Wallace Hayworth, a man struggling to overcome Chronic Avoidant Identity Syndrome (CAIS), a rare medical disorder in which he wakes up looking like a different person each day. Filmmaker Tony James previously made a short film tackling a similar subject and the response he received was very positive. Now he’s expanding the theme and making a more ambitious short film. If you dig the story, then check out the film’s campaign at Kickstarter.

Those are the projects we have for you this week. Be sure to check back every week for our Indie Fundraiser Roundup–helping you help indie cinema.